Capacity block for inspirators



T, MCA; STEWART. AGPACITY BLOCK FOR INSPIHATORS. APPLICATION FILED )ULY-5 |92l,

Patented Nov. 7, 1922 Patented Nov, 7, i922.

irse stares afrsrrr THOMAS MIGAVITY STEVART, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANDA, ASS'JGNGR TC) T. MCAVITY 31; SONS LEMITED, 0F ST. JOHN, NEEN BRUNS'WCK, `llDihl'ALlLfi.

CAPACTY BLOCK FOB INSPIEATORS.

Application ered any 5,

liritain, and resident of the cit f ot Wontreal, Province of Quebec, Dominion of.

(lanada9 have invented certain new and use-A ful improvements in Capacity Blocks for lnspirators; and do hereby declare the following,` to be a full, clear, and exact description oit the same.

This invention refers to inspiratorsfoi" zle through which steam is passed into a" lifter tube to create suction to draiv they water into the inspirator for conveyance to a `forcer device having` a forcer nozzle through whichl steam is passed into a forcer tube to force the Water from the inspirator to the boiler. A normally closed Yforcer steam valve is employed and `gradually openedfto admit steam initially to the lifter nozzle to start the operation of the inspirator and subsequently admit steam `to the forcer nozzle when an adequate quantity of water has been drawn into the inspiraton a normally open overflow valve being simul- 1laneously operated to gradually close an overflow opening; in correspondence to the opening oi. the steam valve, the function of the overflow valve arrangementbeinp; to establish priming current of viater through the inspirator to initiate the operation of the torcer device. f

This type ot inspirator is capable oft supplyingvarying' quantities ot Water in a `given time, tor example from 2500 to 5000 2gallons per hour, being adapted tobe alternately fitted With sets ot lifter and :torcer nozzles and tubes of varying sizes to alter the capacity of the inspirator in accordance with requirements. lfnasmuch as `an inspirator fitted Jfor a given supply capacity calls for a longer priming period than one fitted for a rreduced supply capacity and vice versa, the travel of the overflow valve is varied in `correspondence to the capacity for which the inspirator is fitted, a longer travel of ysuch overow valve being established When the inspirator is `fitted for an increased capacity. yThis adjustment of the travel ot the overflouT valve is eiiiectedr by supporting the valve in open position at varying distances from its seat through the medium of Serial No. 482,427.

slidably mounted support held by a block termed a capacity block, the lthiclmess or depth of the block deterniininsg1 the distance betiveen the valvev and its seat. A set of separate blocks varying in depth to correspond to varying injector capacities is utilized to vary the travel of the overflowY 'valvegr such blocks being separately employed and when an inspirator is fitted for a given capacity, a block ot the proper depth to' establish that travel of overflowv valve requisite for the Lgiven capacity, is affixed.

My invention appertains particularly to capacity blocks or equivalent devices utilized for the variance of the travel of valves, the invention having for its object to iinprove such devices and avoid the disadvantages inherent in their use as previously constructed.` Heretoiiore said capacity blocks have been individually invariable, that is made of a depth for one capacity only, a set ot separate blocks being; required for a range of capacities7 there ybeing usually about ve blocks of dilierent depths required for a range of fromy 2500 to 5000 gallons per hour. Consequently when the capacity ot an inspirator is changed the block formerly usedk has to be removed and another bloclr affixed in accordance vith the new capacity. This necessitykcomplicates the reiitting` of an inspirator and further-- more necessitates the keeping in stock ot numerous blocks to meet the dierent requirements. As these inspiratore toi-m part of a locomotive equipment, stocks of the blocks have to be maintained inthe Widely scattered roundhouses and repair shops of a railiva stem and if in refittinfr a locomotive the -particular block for desired capacity is not available serious delay results.

My invention consists in the provision of Cil will be hereinafter more fully explained and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

For i'ull comprehension, however, of myy invention reference should behadto the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication, in which .the same reference characters indicate like parts and wherein:

F ig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section oit a locomotive inspirator embodying my improved capacity block;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary `plan view ot the mounting for the overlonT valve operating lever; l

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the capacity block removed; and

Fig. l is a perspective vievv oi the block with the discs separated.

In the drawings, 2 indicates the casingof an inspirator, 3 the steam `inlet with main and auxiliary steam valves 4e and 5 respec tively, 6 the Water inletand 7 the Water out- -let, the lifter nozzle and lifter tube being respectively shovvn at S and 9 and the torcer nozzle and forcer tube at 10 and 11 respectively. The tina-l overflow openinglocated at 12 is controlled by linal overflow valve 13 While the intermediate overflow opening 14' is controlled by intermediate overlon7 valve 15. The steam and lfinal overflow valves are operated by a lever 16 fulcrumed at 17 to the casing and having the spindle oi tbe steam valve pivoted `thereto yat 18, the linal overflow valve being connectedV to the lever 16 through the medium of a linlr 19 and elbow lever 2() fulcrumed at 21 and connected to the stem 22 of the final overflow valve at one end and to the link at the other The operation ot the inspirator is clearly detailed in United .States Patent No. fet-92,9441, March 7, 1893, and therefore it Will be sutlicient for this disclosure to explain that a movement ot lever 16 in the direction of the arroiv, initially.7 opens auxiliary valve el. admitting steam to' nozzle 8, thence to tube 9 and therefrom to outlet 12 through tube 11 and through port 14 by automatically open ing valve 1 5. This passage of steam through the inspirator `cheates a suction drawing* Water 'from inlet 6 into the casina` and ythrough tubes 9 and 11 and lport 14 to nal overflow opening '12, thus priming the inspirator so that upon continued movement of lever 16 to open main steam valve 4- the steam is passed through nozzle 10 and tube 11 to finally torce the Water from outlet 7 to the boiler, The movement oi lever 16 to gradually open the steam valves 4l ,and 5 acts, through the link 19 and lever 20 :to simultaneously vgradually close the final overliow valve 13, the adjustment being` such that valve 13 ,closes upon such opening of Yvalve as to establish a proper current .through tube -llto adequately feed the Water to the boiler. The intermediate overllonY valve is automatically closed by 'gravity and the pressure established oy the closing of the final overflow valve, such pressure acting upon the top of the valve 15 'to close it against its opening pressure.v

The above structure is not new but is covered in part by the hereinbetore mentioned patent and is adapted to be litted With varying, sizes oi nozzles S and 10 and tubes 9 and 11 to vary the supply capacity of the inspirator in gallons per hour, the larger the nozzles and tubes the greater the supply capacity. This variance in the supply capacity olf the inspiratorV necessitates a correspondingl variance in the travel of the final overtloiv valve 13 as a longer *priming period and consequently a longer valve travel to delay thel closing,` ci the valve is required to establish an adequate forcing .current through forcer tube 11 vvhen the inspirator has been jfitted with larger nozzles and tubes for an increased supply capacity and lilreivise a shorter travel. of the valve is required vrhen the capacity supply is decreased. Heretoiiore this adjustment ot the travel of valve 13 has been effected by carrying,- the iulcrum pin 21 of the elbow lever 20, in the lugs 23 ot a split sleeve or iulcrurn bracket 211- slidably mounted upon a cylindrical post 25 upon the casing,y 2, the sleeve beingmoved along` the post to position the valve through the lever 2O and stein 22` at such distance from its seat as to .provide a travel. accordiiug to the requirements of the supply capacity oi the inspirator ttings. The sleeve has been moved into suitable position and maintainedtherein by an arm 26 carried upon the pin 21 at its upper end and bearing; at its lower end upon the top of a capacity bloclr (not sboivn) interposed therebetween-and the top o'l2 the casing, such block beine; ot a predetermined depth or thickness to position and maintain the sleeve and the iulcrum pin carried thereby at the distance from thc valve seat `12 required by the capacity tittinggs ot the inspimtor` a change of fittings necessitatingr the removal of the block then in place and the aliixing` oli a separateblock of a depth correspondJ ing' to the nenv fittings. A bolt 27 passes loosely through the rarm26 and capacity block and engages the casing to hold 'the members in position.

f-is lhereinbeifore explained, tbe present invention consists in means for adjustingr the sleeve 24 and through `it the position of the iinal overflow valve -with respect to lits Aseat and the consequent travel. of such valve, by means of a device which is individually variable to effect the cha-nge Without removal and replacement so thatauniversally adaptable intact device maybe @provided to take care of alladgustments requisite for a given range capacities.,

l Ol

While it is to be understood that the desired result can be achieved in various ways, the most suitable arrangement at the present time avoids change to existing construction et inspirator in all but one respect, namely the capacity block which, instead of being a block of a fixed depth or thickness is made extensible and capable of adjustment to vary its thickness or depth by torming the block preferably of co-operating parts provided with steps ot varying heights whereby the engagement of the parts through the medium ot one step produces a block the height ot which varies with respect to the height secured by engagement of the parts through the medium of a dii'l'erent step. A block is thus provided which is capable of universal adaptation with respect to varying inspirator capacities Within a given range. In the illustrated form the improved capacity block comprises a pair ot co-operating members, the opposing surtac-es oit which have engagement surfaces at varying depths throughout the thickness of the combined members. Such members constitute a block the thickness of which is dependent upon the particular abutment surfaces engaged.

In the form of block I yprefer to use the members of the block are constituted by circular discs 28 and 29 respectively, and centrally apertured at 30 to receive the bolt 27. The discs are combined to form a block, the opposing faces of the discs presenting axial lugs 3]. spaced circumferentially of the discs, the space between the lugs of disc 28 being occupied by a series of radial faces 32 graduated in depth axially of the disc and extending trem one/lug to another circumferentially of the disc to form series ot steps duplicated between each two lugs and with the radial faces or ends ot such lugs forming the highest steps. By nesting the two discs together with the ends ot the lugs ot disc 29 engaging the lowermost steps of disc 28, the two discs form a rigid block of a certain minimum thickness, which thickness can be gradually increased step by step until the ends of the lugs of both discs engage to produce a rigid block of a certain maximum thickness. The provision of the steps 32 at diierent depths throughout the axial line or thickness of disc 2S trom the outer face ot the disc to the end of the lugs 31 thereof, enables the total thickness of the two part block to be varied bya relative circumferential movement of the discs7 each step establishing the depth of block necessary for securing adjustment of the final overflow valve in correspondence with a certain inspirator supply capacity. For eX- ample the the irst or lowermost step of the illustrated block establishes a capacity block thickness for 2500 gallons per hour and the other steps increase the capacity block thickness up to that required tor :3000 gallons per hour, the steps being appropriately marke-ii as shown upon the periphery ofthe disc, figures representing the hour gallons each step corresponds to being placed adjacent such steps.

The capacities encountered usually range between 2500 and 5000 gallons per hour and this range heretofore necessitated the provision of five separate blocks which the illustrated single block o'timproved construction replaces.

The block is affixed to the inspirator between the arm 26 and top of the casing 2 and held in position by the bolt 27 which passes through the apertured lower end of arm 2G and through the apertures 30 of the discs into screw-tl'ireaded engagement with the casing- 2. By partially unscrewing the bolt suihcient freedom is secured to permit of a relative movement of the discs 28 and 29 wherel'iy the proper adjustment thereof can be made to secure a depth of block neces.- sary for the particularl capaciityfor which the inspirator is fitted, tightening ot the bolt securing the parts in adjusted position. Different depths of block can be secured for subsequent changes in` ittings by merely loosening the bolt without removing the latter, thus avoiding the possibility or" misplacement et the bolt. f

From the above it will be seen that any intact device is maintainedaflixed to the inspirator and capable ot adjustment to establish the desired travel of the valve without recourse to the time taking and inconvenient removal and replacement ot separate capacity blocks of iixed depths. The herein `described adjustable mounting of the valve support furthermore eliminates the necessity tor maintaining numerous stocks of invariable capacity blocks as one device ot' the improved form is capable of adjustment Afor adaptation to all capacities usually encountered.

1What l claim is as follows:

l. The combination with a valve andits seat, of means for moving the valve to and 'from `the seat and individually adjustable means for supporting the valve at varying` distances from said seat to varv the travel of such valve. u i

2. The combination with a valve and its seat. of means for moving the valve to and from its seat and means for supporting the valve at a certain predetermined distance from the seat when the valve is open, such means being individually adjustable to vary the distance between the seat and valve in its open position.

The combination with a valve and its seat, of means for moving the valve to and from its seat, such means including a lever and a fulcrum for the lever and means for supporting said ulcrum at a predetermined distance from the seat, said means beingindividually adjustable to vary the distance lgietween'the seat and fulcrum.

4. The combination with a valve and its seat7 of means for moving the valve to and from its seat. such means including` a lever and a bracket to which the lever is tulcrumed7 and a support for said itulcrum bracket to hold the bracket at a predetermined distance from the valve seat, said sup# port being individually adjustable to vary the distance between the bracket and valve seat.

5i The combination with a valve and its seat, of means for moving the valve to and `from its seat including a lever and a bracket to which the lever is fulcrumed, andan er;- tensible support for said fulcrum bracket to hold the bracket at varying predetermined distances from the valve seat.

6. The combination with a valve casing, a valve and a seat for thevalve., of means tor moving` the valve to and from :its seat and means for supporting the valve at varying predetermined distances from its seat,y such means including` a movable member connected to the valve and supported by the-casing1 and a block of variable thickness disposed between said member and the casing.

7. The combination with a valve casing. al valve and a seat for the valve, ot means tor moving the valve to andv from its seat and means for supporting the valve at varyinepredetermined distances from its seat, such means including a movable' member connected to the valve and supported bythe 'casing and a block disposed between said member and the casing such block including two co-operating relatively movable members presenting engagingfaces at varying points throughout their combined maximum depth.

S. The combination with a valve casing, a

Y valve and a seat for the valve, of means for moving'ithe valve to and from its seat and means ttorsupporting the valve at varyingF predetermined distances trom its sea.t such.- means including a movable member connect-f ed to the valve and supported by the casingand a block disposed between said member and the casing, such block including two cooperating` discs relatively movable circumterentially oi each other, one of said discs presenting circumterentially arranged steps spaced axially ot the disc and the othervdisc presenting a. lug adapted to alternately ensaid steps to vary the depth of said block. f

9. ln an inspirator, a steam valve, a linal overflow valve7 an operating lever connected to the steam valve, an angle lever connected to the linal overflow valve, a link l etween the angle lever and operating lever. a bracket slidably mounted upon the inspirator and having` said angle lever fulcrumed thereto. an arm extending from the fulcrum bracket and a block disposed between the arm and inspirator, said block beingadjustable to vary the thickness thereof.

l0. ln an inspirator, the combination with a. steam valve removable litter and torcer nozzles and tubes of predetermined capacity. such nozzles and tubes being adapted to be replaced by other nozzles and tubes or" different predetermined capacity, a final overflow valve and means for simultaneously opening` the steam valve and closing the tina-l overflow valve, of means 'for adjusting' the travel ot the iiual overtlow valve in correspondence to the requirements set up by the capacity ot the nozzles and tubes7 said means including a movable support for the final overflow valve and a capacity block 'disposed between said support and the casing or' the inspirator, said block being adjustable to variable thicknesses to hold the support at varying predetermined positions, the various thicknesses ot the block corresponding to the various capacities oit the nozzles and tubes and being identified therewith upon the block.

ll... A capacity block for inspirators and compri singco-operating` relatively movable members presenting engaging faces at varyino' points throughout their combined marrimum depth.

l2. A capacity block for inspirators and comprising' (io-operating discs relatively movable circumterentially oi each other, one ot said discs presenting eircumterentially arranged steps spaced axially of the disc and the other disc presenting a lug adapted to alternately engage said steps to vary the .depth ot said block.

ln testimony whereof` have signed my name to this specification. in4 the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOll/IAS 'MCAITY STElVART. 

